School Newsletter
12.06.26
Good afternoon,
As we approach the midpoint of June, next week marks an important milestone in the academic year. Our Year 11 students will complete their GCSE examinations, ending a period of hard work, determination and resilience. We are incredibly proud of the way they have approached this challenging time and wish them every success as they await their results.
At the same time, our Year 10 students will begin their mock examinations. These assessments provide a valuable opportunity to experience formal examination conditions and to identify strengths and areas for further development as they prepare for their final GCSE year. We encourage all students to approach these exams with confidence, commitment and a positive mindset.
As one cohort reaches the end of its examination journey and another takes an important step towards theirs, it is a reminder of the continuous progress and achievement that characterise our school community. Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support.
Information for Parents/Carers of all years
Thank You for Your Support with Punctuality
Thank you to everyone for their support to improve punctuality to lessons. Our children and young people are to be praised for the way they have tried their best to get to their lessons on time this week. Punctuality has improved for almost all students and teaching staff report a smoother start to lessons as everyone arrives together and on time. This change has given us back at least 5 minutes learning time each lesson or 25 minutes a day. Over time this could lead to 125 minutes a week or 4,875 minutes per year – that equates to at least two extra weeks learning over the year.
I want to reassure parents and carers that the toilets are open before and after school, during break and at lunch time as usual. Similarly, toilets remain open during lessons and children can ask to go to the toilet. Teachers give permission using our ARBOR system and give the child a lanyard with the staff name. Once at the toilet, staff check permissions on ARBOR, see the lanyard and monitor the toilets to ensure that children are safe. Anyone with a toilet pass can use the toilet when they need to use the toilet and will be given permission by the teacher.
Punctuality - Morning Arrival
Many children are here when the gate opens so that they can meet friends, see teachers or have some breakfast in the dining hall. We encourage everyone to be on site for 8.20am so that they are sitting down ready to learn at 8.30am. To support our drive for punctuality, we will close the front gate at 8.25am from Monday 13th June to encourage everyone to be ready to learn at 8.30am when the register opens. After 8.25am, we will direct children to the late gate at the swimming pool entrance, but children will not be marked late unless they arrive after 8.30am. Thank you for your cooperation to make sure that everyone is sitting down at 8.30am when the register opens.
A reminder that if you arrive after the register closes at 8.59am then you will lose a half-day attendance. This is a directive from the government and is statutory for schools.
Children and Young People Being Collected Before the End of the School Day
To improve the accuracy of our attendance records and ensure the safety of all students, we are introducing a change to the way children are signed out of school when they are collected before the end of the day.
From Monday 15th June, children will be signed out through the Attendance Office during the day. The office is on the ground floor near the main entrance and has two members of staff available. Children do not need to sign out at Reception.
Parents and carers can continue to go to Reception when collecting children and Reception staff will assist with the collection process. Thank you
Reminder – Early Closure 30 June 2026
A reminder that we will be closing school at lunchtime on 30th June for staff training.
Returning to School in September 2026
- School will be closed to children on Monday 31st August due to the Bank Holiday
- School will be closed to children on Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd September 2026 for INSET.
- New Year 7 will start at 8.30am on Thursday 3rd September 2026
- New Y11 will start after break on Thursday 3rd September 2026
- New Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10 will start at 8.30 on Friday 4th September 2026
Details of Year 11 Exams for Week Commencing 15 June
Monday 15 June
- AM - Physics
- PM - Further Maths
Tuesday 16 June
- AM – Spanish
Year 11 Results Day
Results day is Thursday 20th August 2026 – we send out more details once the exams are over. To help everyone receiving results that day, careers support will be available to all Year 11 students on results day and the day after. Timings to be confirmed.
Year 10 and Year 11 Work Experience Opportunities
Futures for All are offering lots of creative work experience opportunities. Gaming, print, marketing, film plus much more available throughout June/July – remote and in-person opportunities can be sourced here - Future Finder - Futures For All
Year 11 work experience opportunity with BHP
BHP are pleased to share that applications are now open for the upcoming BHP Sheffield Work Experience Academy (WXA), taking place this July.
Dates: Monday 6 - Friday 10 July inclusive
Location: BHP, ALbert Works, Sidney Street, Sheffield, S1 4RG
This intensive, week long programme is designed for Year 11 - 13 students interested in exploring careers in accountancy and professional services.
Students will work through a hands-on business case, stepping into the world of a small, family-owned ice cream business. With support from BHP professionals, they will:-
- Explore how a business grows, manages finances and makes decisions
- Gain insight into the role of accountancy in real-world scenarios
- Develop valuable transferable skills such as teamwork, communication and problem solving
Feedback from previous programmes shows that the experience is both engaging and genuinely impactful for students considering a future in finance. It also provides a helpful early insight into career pathways such as apprenticeships.
Apply here: Work Experience Academy - Sheffield - Sheffield | BHP Careers
Closing date is Wednesday 17 June.
Year 11 Apprenticeship Vacancies
A wide range of Sheffield-based apprenticeships can be found here - All | Sheffield Apprenticeships
Great Places are offering trade-based apprenticeships (Plumbers and Joiners) - Trades Apprenticeships 2026 (Plumbers & Joiners) – Sheffield
Nationwide apprenticeships are available at GOV.UK Find an apprenticeship with the option to filter for South Yorkshire and Derbyshire.
Y11 Transition to College/Sixth Form
Don’t forget to check with your young person’s new provider on what enrolment action is needed following the collection of results. Some will issue appointments and others will set a time and date for drop-in sessions. Places are not finalised until enrolment has taken place.
|
Parents’ Guide to University 2026
Hear inspiring advice from educator and Gogglebox star Baasit Siddiqui. Free to download. No registration. No data capture. Just expert advice for parents and supporters. |
Volunteers to Help Renovate the School Garden
We are keen to renovate our school garden. The garden sits to the left of the entrance to school and has the potential to be a wonderful space for children and adults as well as to encourage wildlife. We will be working with Sheffield United Football Club ‘Nature Blades’ project next academic year but need volunteers from the community to help us. A volunteer could help during the day, at lunchtime or after school so there is some flexibility. Please get in touch through enquiries if you could spare some time to help us. Thanks again.
Music at Westfield School
|
Lesson / Club |
Description |
Lead Teacher |
Cost £ |
Contact |
|
School Choir |
School choir after school club. Pop songs and musicals. Singing with others. |
Mark Cunningham |
FREE |
Subject Leader Music Dept |
|
Music Club |
After school club: Use our fully resourced practice rooms to develop your own musical talents or to form your own band. |
Mr Hydes |
FREE |
Subject Leader Music Dept |
|
One to One Singing Lessons |
Singing lessons with Mark Cunningham – West End performer and professional vocalist. |
Mark Cunningham |
£10 Per 20 min lesson |
Subject Leader Music Dept |
|
One to One Guitar and Piano Lessons |
Guitar and piano lessons with James Cutts: Accredited Sheffield Music Hub Teacher. Pop / rock and traditional styles for both instruments |
James Cutts |
£12 Per 30 Min Lesson |
Guitar and Piano instrumental Lead |
Here at Westfield, we offer additional music lessons / clubs and activities alongside timetabled lessons to help young people develop as a musician. Below is a table of the activities we provide and how to contact the relevant teacher, so you are all set up for your extracurricular lessons in September. There is an additional cost for our peripatetic music teachers that visit the school to do one to one lesson, however, all after school extracurricular music clubs are free of charge
Our Westfield Learning Community Trust fund includes money set aside to support with music lessons each year. We allocate this funding on a rolling programme each year so please get in touch if you want your child to sing or play an instrument – we may be able to help fund their lessons.
Preparing for Adulthood Live
Good news stories
Westfield School has been awarded Gold within the School Games Mark for the 5th consecutive year. This shows the dedication, commitment and resilience from our Trust, Staff and students alike within school sport. We as a PE department would like to thank each and every student that has been involved in school sport throughout the year, to Andy Staley for his commitment and resourcefulness as our School Games Organiser, as well as Mrs Jones the Headteacher for making sure that all the students can access the wonderful opportunities on offer to our students since joining Westfield.
Outstanding Effort from Year 10 GCSE Drama Students
A huge congratulations to our Year 10 GCSE Drama students for their outstanding performances on 10th June as part of their Component 1 assessment.
We are delighted with what they have achieved and would like to thank them for all their hard work, perseverance, and teamwork. Their performances were a testament to the talent and determination within our Drama department.
Well done, Year 10 – you have done yourselves proud!
Westfield Sports Leaders Shine at Annual Kwik Cricket Competition
Our Westfield Sports Leaders recently played a key role in the successful delivery of the annual Kwik Cricket Competition at Eckington Cricket Club. Throughout the day, our leaders took responsibility for planning, umpiring and scoring matches, demonstrating excellent organisation, leadership and teamwork skills.
The event provided a fantastic opportunity for local primary school students to enjoy a day of sporting activity, competition and learning. We hope that everyone involved had an enjoyable experience and developed new skills and knowledge throughout the day.
A huge thank you must go to John South for organising the venue and making the event possible for both our Sports Leaders and primary students. We would also like to thank Eckington Cricket Club for generously allowing us to use their excellent facilities, and Andy Staley for his continued support and assistance throughout the day.
Finally, a special thank you goes to our outstanding Sports Leaders. Their enthusiasm, professionalism and commitment helped create a fantastic event for our local community, and they should be incredibly proud of the positive experience they provided for all participants.
Well done to everyone involved!
Dates for your diary
17/06/26 – 26/06/26 – Year 10 mock exams
17/06/26 – Asdan group visit to Crystal Peaks
18/06/26 – Sports leaders educational visit to Brookhouse School
19/06/26-20/06/26 – Duke of Edinburgh bronze practice expedition
19/06/26 – Sports leaders educational visit to Halfway Junior School
22/06/26 – Higher level maths achievement programme visit to Sheffield Hallam University
26/06/26 – Sports leaders educational visit to Waterthorpe School
30/06/26 – School inset day (part day only from 12:15)
Reminder of our contact emails
safeguarding@westfield.chorustrust.org
attendance@westfield.chorustrust.org
enquiries@westfield.chorustrust.org
sendadmin@westfield.chorustrust.org
As always, thank you for your ongoing support.
Mrs G A Jones
